Bicycle-lantern



(No Mode l.)

W. L. KEENE.

, BICYCLE LANTERN. v No. 557,394. I Patented Mar 31, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VIIJIJIAM Ii. KEENE, OF W VATERVILLE, MAINE.

BICYCLE-LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,394, dated March 31, 1896. Application file d December 13, 1895. fierial No. 571,982. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM L. KEENE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vaterville, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle -Lanterns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to lanterns to be used on bicycles or for other like purposes; and the object of my invention is to construct a small headlight or lantern in which the lamp used is provided with a chimney and which has a parabolic reflector.

While it is desirable in a headlight to use a lamp with a chimney on account of the better combustion obtained, it is difficult to do this on account of the heat developed, which will tend to melt the upper portion of the lantern. I have found that while an Argand burner in such small lanterns could not be used on account of the heat a straight burner with the ordinary bulging chimney can be used, and the problem I have undertaken to solve in my present invention is to make a simple and easily-manipulated lantern using a straight burner and a tapering chimney.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved lantern; and Fig. 2 is a section taken at right angles to that of Fig. l, the lamp and the removable top not being shown.

My lantern is made up of the lamp 0, the cylinder A, removably secured to the base of the lamp, and the removable top B.

The lamp 0 is provided with an ordinary straight burner c and the ordinary bulging chimney d.

WVithin the cylinder A is the parabolic re flector e having openings h and 2' through which the chimney passes. The front end of the reflector is closed by means of a bullseye m, which is made removable, so that access can be had to the burner through the reflector.

The chimney is held down onto its seat by means of the yoke f, which fits over the upper end of the chimney. Secured to this yoke on each side is a coiled spring g, the upper end of which is fastened to the yoke, while the lower end is secured to the inside of the cylinder. The usual means are provided for fastening the lantern to the head of the bicycle.

lVhen it is desired to light the lamp, the top B is removed, the chimney liftedfrom its seat by taking hold of the top end, the bullseye removed or swung back on its hinges, and the lamp lighted by reaching in through the front of the reflector.

The long coiled springs allow the chimney to be lifted clear of the burner so that the latter can be readily lighted, and when the chimney is placed in position on the burner the spring holds it firmly in place against any jar to which the lantern may be subjected. lVhen it is desired to fill the lamp, it is removed from the cylinder by unlocking it at the bottom and drawing it downward as in the ordinary lantern.

A lantern constructed according to my invention is very efiicient because it has a steady flame and a parabolic reflector.

The straight wick does not develop heat enough to melt the solder around the top of the lantern and the chimney can be easily manipulated in lighting.

I claim-- The herein-described lantern for bicycles or other like purposes consisting of a lamp, a chimney for the same having a tapering top, a cylinder removably secured to the base of said lamp, a parabolic reflector in said cylinder having openings through which the said chimney passes, a removable top for said cylinder, a yoke fitting over the said chimney at or near its upper end and a coiled spring attached at each side of said yoke by its upper end, the lower ends of said springs being attached to said cylinder.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM L. KEENE. Witnesses:

S. L. BERRY, L. B. SPENCER. 

